Taking city name is a right royal insult

COUNCIL and buses bosses who insist on calling Reading a city are disrespecting the Queen, according to the Government.

However, they are not breaking the law - and council chiefs say they will keep using the term to describe the town.

Many Evening Post letter writers have complained about the use of the term, with several suggesting that if is used too much people will just get used to it.

Andrew Bickle, from Nightingale Road, Woodley, thinks councillors are "ego-tripping" and "devaluing the honour" of city status.

He said: "Reading tried in 2000, and again in 2002, to secure city status for itself and failed on both occasions.

"So, it decides to call itself a city anyway, even though it has been properly proved twice in three years it does not deserve it!"

The Lord Chancellor's Office says Reading was doing nothing wrong but was being disrespectful to the Queen by taking a title it was not entitled to.

A spokesman said city status was conferred by the Sovereign, under the Royal Prerogative, except where a town was already accepted as a city because it had historically been called one and had continued to be labelled a city to the present day.

He added: "Common usage may diverge from the formal position, but does not constitute a criminal offence.

"However, city status is a mark of distinction granted by personal Command of the Queen and conferred by Letters Patent.

"To use the title without permission would show great disrespect for Her Majesty."

The matter of Reading's official status was raised at a meeting of the borough council last week when councillor Fred Pugh, leader of the Conservatives, accused the authority of trying to sneakily get away with using the word.

He said: "This is making us a laughing stock and causes adverse comment."

Referring to Reading's two failed bids to gain city status, he added: "It may even prejudice future applications, which I am sure we are going to make."

Mr Pugh urged the council to instruct Civic Centre departments and Reading Transport to stop using terms such as city centre.

But council leader Dave Sutton said no action would be taken to stop the word - now commonly written on buses and in brochures - being used.

This is the second time Reading has invoked Her Majesty's Displeasure.

The statue of Queen Victoria in Friar Street is famously said to be facing away from Reading because of her dislike of the town.